Envelope



(No Model.)

A. BUSHNELL. ENVELOPE, STAMP, AND FINGER MOISTENER.

Patented Nov. 25,1890.

Mka/ii @MM 1 TNESSES INVENTOR NITE AT ES ALVAH BUSHNELL, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE, STAMP, AND FINGER MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,132, dated November25, 1890.

Application filed March 3, 1890. $erial No. S IZAAB- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVAH BUSHNELL, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Envelope,Stamp. and Finger Moistener, of which the followingisa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part hereof.

My invention relates to devices for moistening the gummed flaps ofenvelopes preparatory to sealing them, to moistening the gummed back ofstamps preparatory to placing them on articles for mailing, and tomoistening the finger-tips preparatory to counting bank-notes, sheets ofpaper, and the like; and it consists in the several novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed,and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device with thelid open, the absorbent pad in place, and the envelope-flap shieldremoved. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form ofenvelope-flap shield. Figs. 3, l, and 5 are modified forms of the same;and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my device with the lid open and theabsorbent pad and envelope-flap shield in place.

Referring to the drawings, A is a box, of any desired form, with tightbottom, sides, and ends, and is preferably provided with a hinged top orcover B.

O is a pad or packing, of absorbent material, fitted within andcompletely filling the box and removable therefrom, and is preferablycomposed of felt,though it may be composed of cloth, sponge, or thelike, with good result.

D is an envelope-flap shield preferably made of metal, but may be madeof wood, waterproof-paper, or any suitable material. I preferablyconstruct this shield to the form shown in Fig. 2 in the drawings thatisto say, bent at one edge, as at d, for insertion between the absorbentpad and front side of the box, and permit its fiat portion to rest onthe surface of the absorbent pad, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, andotherwise corresponding in outline to,

or nearly so, with the form of an envelopefiap. As will be obvious, itmay be bent at more than one edge to the same end, as shown in Figs. 4and 5, or it may be a fiat plate of metal and simply rested on thesurface of the pad, or secured in any convenient manner. I constructthis shield to a size sufficient to leave exposed enough surface of theaborbent pad between its edges and the rear side of the box to receiveand moisten the gummed portion of an envelope-flap and at the same timeprotect the main body of the flap from coming in contact with theabsorbent pad.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription of its construction.

The absorbent pad, previously soaked in water, is fitted within the boxand the envelope-flap shield then adjusted to place. The envelope havingreceived its inclosu're is taken and laid upon the shield so that thegummed side of the fiap comes in contact with the absorbent materialalong the exposed edge of the shield, then the finger is lightly pressedalong the flap over the gummed side, when the gummed surface will beinstantly and thoroughly moistened and the envelope ready for sealingwithout the disagreeable necessity of touching its gummed surface to thelips and tongue, as in common practice.

Aside from my device being cleanly and agreeable in use, it saves wasteof time, and is of especial value whenever a large number of envelopesor newspaper wrappers are to be sealed; further, with or Without theflap-shield in place, sufficient surface of the absorbent pad is exposedwhereby the gummed surface of stamps may be moistened for use and thetips of the fingers moistened for counting bank-notes, sheets of paper,and the like.

I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact formof construction shown and described, as it is obvious that many detailsof construction may be adopted without departing from the spirit of myinvention strictly as such.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. An envelope, stamp, andfinger moistener consisting of a suitable box or receptacle containing apad of absorbent material and a removable envelopafiap shield of metalor other suitable material adjacent to said pad, as set forth.

2. An envelope, stamp, and finger moistener consisting of a suitable boxor receptacle containing a pad of absorbent material, an envelope-flapshield of metal or other suitable material, and 'means for removablyretaining said shield within said box or receptacle and adjacent to'said pad,' asset forth.

3. An envelope, stamp, and finger moistener consisting of a suitable boxor receptacle containing a pad of absorbent material and anenvelope-flap shield of metal or other suitable material bent at one ormore of its edges and corresponding in form to, or nearly I 5 1 ALVAHBUSHNELL.

In presence of- J OHN J OLLEY, Jr., CHAS. 'BUSH.

